Carib Scope

作者： admin

  • Derde helft WK 2026: Strijd, emoties en dromen op het spel

    Derde helft WK 2026: Strijd, emoties en dromen op het spel

    As the 2026 FIFA World Cup group phase reaches its final stretch, anticipation and tension have climbed to a fever pitch with every match played. This Friday, the final round of group fixtures for Groups G, H and I will kick off, with every kick of the ball carrying high stakes for competing nations. The football world will be watching closely to see which sides secure their spots in the knockout round, which teams claim the coveted first place in their groups, and which underdogs will fight until the final whistle to extend their tournament run.

    One of the most highly anticipated clashes of the day will take place in Group I, where European powerhouses France and Norway go head-to-head for the group’s top position. It has been decades since these two sides last met in competitive play, making this battle for the top spot all the more compelling. Across the other groups, Spain will look to lock in its leading position in Group H, while underdog sides including Egypt, Iran, Belgium, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia are putting everything on the line to keep their World Cup dream alive and advance to the knockout stage.

    Beyond the action unfolding on the pitch, the 2026 tournament has already delivered countless memorable off-field storylines. Mexico has cruised through the group stage without dropping a single point, while legions of Dutch fans have turned Kansas City into a sea of orange celebration. African sides are also pushing to secure a historic number of knockout stage berths, aiming to rewrite the record books for the continent at the World Cup. As organisers often note, some of the tournament’s most special moments happen off the pitch, in the stands and on city streets, where the true unifying spirit of the World Cup comes to life.

    In total, six decisive matches are scheduled for Friday, spread across host cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. At Boston Stadium, Norway and France will face off to decide who claims first place in Group I, kicking off at 16:00 local time. That same hour at Toronto Stadium, Senegal will meet Iraq in a clash of ambitious sides from different continents. At 21:00 local time, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia will battle for survival at Houston Stadium in the U.S., while Uruguay and Spain go head-to-head at Guadalajara’s iconic Estadio in Mexico. Two late kick-offs, set for 00:00 on Saturday local time, will see Egypt and Iran fight for a knockout spot at Seattle Stadium, while first-time opponents New Zealand and Belgium meet at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada, with everything to play for.

    Pre-match analysis has brought a wide range of predictions for the day’s action. France enters its clash with Norway as the bookmakers’ favourite, but the Norwegian side is determined to write history by claiming its first ever World Cup win over a top European side. Senegal is heavily favoured to beat Iraq, who are playing their first World Cup match against an African side at this tournament. Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia are viewed as evenly matched, with experts predicting a close, tense battle. Spain will look to confirm its status as one of the tournament’s top contenders when it faces Uruguay, while Egypt and Iran’s rivalry is set to add extra fire to their survival clash. Belgium, with its deep and talented squad, is expected to edge past New Zealand in their historic first meeting.

    Off the pitch, the 2026 World Cup has continued to produce touching and lighthearted moments that capture the event’s unique magic. In one viral moment, thousands of Colombian fans fell silent to respect a lone DR Congo supporter singing his nation’s national anthem alone, before breaking into a warm, heartfelt round of applause that won praise across social media. Another viral moment saw FIFA President Gianni Infantino appear simultaneously on two separate large event screens, a technical glitch that sparked widespread humour and memes online. Across host cities, fans have painted the streets in the colours of their nations, uniting locals and visiting supporters alike. In Kansas City alone, more than 35,000 Dutch supporters turned the official Oranje Fanwalk into a massive, inclusive celebration that brought together people from every corner of the globe.

    That said, the 2026 tournament has also shone a light on the persistent inequalities that surround global football. Journalist Boima Tucker has highlighted how the World Cup exposes the gap between the collective hope of the event and the hard realities many fans face. While supporters from across the world gather to celebrate the beautiful game, thousands have been blocked from attending by strict visa rules and travel restrictions that prevent them from joining the action in person. Even so, the tournament continues to prove that football remains one of the most powerful forces for bringing people together, even if just for a few weeks, blurring national borders and creating shared joy that transcends political and social divides.

    For players and fans alike, Friday will be a day packed full of passion, high-stakes competition and raw emotion. It is the day when some underdog dreams will be realised, and when other nations’ World Cup journeys will come to an end. As the 2026 FIFA World Cup moves closer to its knockout stage, the story of this historic tournament continues to unfold, promising new heroes, unexpected upsets and unforgettable moments that will be remembered for decades to come.

  • ABCAS Student Wins 2026 National Tourism Youth Congress

    ABCAS Student Wins 2026 National Tourism Youth Congress

    After a compelling day of debate and policy-focused presentations at the Sir John E St. Luce Financial Center, Janica Adams has emerged victorious as Antigua and Barbuda’s newly appointed Junior Tourism Minister, selected through the country’s annual Tourism Youth Congress Competition held last Thursday. A standout competitor representing the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies, Adams brings an impressive resume to the role: she is a former Tourism Cadet and a regional Leeward Islands debating champion, who outperformed seven other finalists drawn from secondary and post-secondary institutions across the twin-island nation. In the final results, Pete Charles of Sir Novelle Richards Academy claimed first runner-up honors, while Soleil Williams of Antigua Grammar School secured second runner-up. The competition was structured to test participants’ depth of tourism knowledge and ability to think on their feet: in the opening round, each competitor chose one of four pre-released tourism-focused topics to deliver a three-minute prepared presentation, before advancing to an impromptu segment where contestants received a surprise topic, had just one minute to outline their argument, and delivered a one-minute off-the-cuff address. As the national champion, Adams will go on to represent Antigua and Barbuda at the regional Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Youth Congress, which is held alongside the annual State of the Tourism Industry Conference. This high-profile gathering brings together tourism ministers, senior policymakers, leading academic researchers, and private sector tourism executives from across the Caribbean, giving young participants a front-row seat to high-level conversations about the future of the regional tourism sector. For decades, the CTO Youth Congress has served as a critical talent development pipeline for the Caribbean, with many past participants going on to build successful careers in tourism, public service, law, communications, hospitality, and international relations. For small island nations like Antigua and Barbuda, where tourism is a cornerstone of the national economy, the competition also offers young leaders a unique opportunity to showcase their country’s unique tourism assets, cultural heritage, sustainability commitments, and long-term tourism vision to a regional audience of industry stakeholders. Charles Fernandez, Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Tourism, served as guest of honor at Thursday’s event and delivered remarks congratulating Adams on her win. “The Tourism Youth Congress continues to provide an invaluable platform for developing the next generation of tourism leaders, and today’s winner has proven to be an exceptional ambassador for Antigua and Barbuda,” Fernandez said. “I congratulate our new Junior Minister on this well-deserved accomplishment and commend all the students who participated in this year’s competition. As you prepare to represent our nation, I encourage you to embrace this opportunity with confidence, knowing that your voice will help shape conversations about the future of tourism in our region.” The next regional CTO Tourism Youth Congress is scheduled to take place from October 5 to 9, 2026, in Georgetown, Guyana. All competitors who reached the national final earned praise for their strong performances representing their schools: Jahniya Cornelius from St. Mary’s Secondary School, Danae Foster from Christ the King High School, Julissa George from All Saints Secondary School, Deanna Lando from Clare Hall Secondary School, and Kayleigh Martyr from Divine Academy of Excellence. The national iteration of the Tourism Youth Congress is organized by the Tourism Education Training and Awareness Department within Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Tourism, led by department manager Tracey Browne.

  • Chef Orlando awarded British Empire Medal in King’s Birthday Honours

    Chef Orlando awarded British Empire Medal in King’s Birthday Honours

    A legendary culinary figure from Saint Lucia has earned one of the United Kingdom’s highest civilian honors, marking a major milestone for both his decades-long community service and his mission to elevate Caribbean cuisine on the global stage. Veteran chef Orlando Satchell, owner of the popular Orlando’s Restaurant and Bar in Soufrière, was named a recipient of the British Empire Medal (BEM) in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours list, recognized specifically for his lifelong work advancing community development and poverty reduction across his home island.

    In an interview with local publication St Lucia Times, Satchell expressed deep humility and gratitude for the recognition, saying the award carries extra meaning because it originated from a nomination by the government and people of Saint Lucia. “I feel honoured to be recognised by the Saint Lucia government because the government of Saint Lucia, or the people, had to acknowledge me and put me forward. That in itself gives you a different sense of acknowledgement,” he explained.

    With more than four decades of professional experience as a celebrity chef and over 45 years honing his craft, Satchell says every accolade he receives presents a new opportunity to shine a spotlight on the diverse, vibrant culinary traditions of the Caribbean region. He believes public recognition of his work does not just honor his own efforts, but draws much-needed attention to the rich food heritage that makes the Caribbean a unique culinary destination.

    While the BEM formally honors Satchell’s contributions to community uplift and anti-poverty work, the chef is quick to redirect praise to the unsung backbone of the Caribbean hospitality and food sectors. “The people we don’t see… the fishermen, the farmers, the food vendors, the persons who are in the kitchen,” he named, emphasizing that every person along the supply chain and behind the scenes plays an equally critical role in the industry’s success. He also offered guidance for young people just starting their culinary careers, urging them to never overlook the contributions of entry-level and behind-the-scenes workers. Even a small gesture of gratitude, like thanking a dishwasher for their work, he says, can foster a more respectful, collaborative industry culture.

    Far from planning to retire or slow down, Satchell says his mission to lift up Caribbean cuisine and nurture emerging culinary talent is far from complete. One of his top ongoing priorities is advocating for the creation of a dedicated culinary school in Saint Lucia, an institution that would provide structured, culturally rooted training for the next generation of local chefs. “I really want to continue to help train young people to become chefs. Even if you leave the Caribbean, you don’t lose the essence of the Caribbean flavour in your cooking,” he said.

    Calling himself “a chef on a mission,” Satchell reaffirmed his long-term vision for Caribbean food: “The long-term objective is to make sure that Caribbean cuisine is the number one cuisine in the Caribbean. We cannot come to the Caribbean for the best of everything else. You come to the Caribbean for the best of the Caribbean.”

    Before concluding his remarks, Satchell paid tribute to the people who supported him throughout his decades in business. He remembered his late friend Diana Theodore, who played an instrumental role in launching his restaurant in its early years, and extended gratitude to all current and former staff at Orlando’s Restaurant and Bar, as well as the loyal patrons who have supported his work over generations. “You have to acknowledge that, without the staff, you can’t build. The staff helped to build,” he noted.

  • Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 589

    Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 589

    On the evening of Wednesday, June 24, 2026, Venezuela’s northern coastal region was shattered by two back-to-back massive earthquakes that have become the country’s deadliest seismic event in nearly 60 years. As of June 26, the confirmed death toll has climbed to 589, with thousands more injured and widespread destruction across urban and rural communities near the capital.

    The disaster unfolded with devastating speed: a 7.2-magnitude tremor struck first, collapsing residential and commercial structures across Caracas and forcing panicked residents to flee into open streets. Within minutes, a stronger 7.5-magnitude quake hit the same region, compounding damage and trapping thousands under rubble.

    There remains a discrepancy in reported injury figures: Venezuela’s Health Ministry tallied more than 4,300 people harmed by the quakes on Thursday, while acting President Delcy Rodríguez released a lower count of 2,980 injured one day later. At least 18 foreign nationals from five countries—Portugal, Spain, Brazil, China, and Chile—are among those confirmed dead. Rodríguez confirmed that intensive search-and-rescue operations are ongoing 24 hours a day, but warned the death toll will almost certainly continue to rise as emergency teams gain access to remote and isolated communities still cut off by damaged infrastructure.

    In response to the disaster, a wave of international aid has begun to arrive. Neighboring Latin American nations including Mexico, Chile, and El Salvador have deployed specialized search-and-rescue teams along with critical medical supplies. The United States has repositioned two Navy ships off Venezuela’s coast and sent transport aircraft and helicopters to support rescue operations, damage assessments, and emergency supply delivery. Regional bodies and global leaders have also extended solidarity: Belize Prime Minister John Briceño offered deep condolences via social media, noting that crises of this scale reaffirm that “our shared humanity is stronger than any challenge nature may bring.” The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) issued an official statement mourning the loss of life, expressing full solidarity with the Venezuelan people during their “period of immense grief,” and praising first responders and local volunteers working in harsh conditions to save lives.

    The disaster comes as Venezuela already faces widespread food insecurity, a reality the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned will worsen following the quakes. “The loss of livelihoods and assets is likely to compound the situation,” the WFP said, adding that food is one of the most urgent unmet needs in impacted areas. The agency’s United States branch confirmed WFP teams are already on the ground coordinating response efforts, but warned the organization requires immediate additional funding and support to scale up life-saving humanitarian assistance across affected regions.

    The 1967 Caracas earthquake, a 6.7-magnitude event that killed more than 200 people, was the last major seismic disaster to strike Venezuela prior to this week’s events, making the 2026 quakes the deadliest in modern Venezuelan history.

  • Electoral Office issues June 2026 update on electors list

    Electoral Office issues June 2026 update on electors list

    As Dominica works to overhaul its electoral framework ahead of the October 2026 voter registration deadline, the island nation’s Electoral Office has reported a dramatic acceleration in voter confirmation and new registration processes, according to an official update published June 23, 2026.

    Over the course of the ongoing initiative, the Electoral Office has granted final approval to 17,332 existing voter confirmations and 1,174 new voter registrations. In total, the body received 19,060 confirmation submissions and 1,474 new registration applications across the current reporting cycle. The latest numbers mark a sharp upward trend from earlier spring months, reflecting growing public participation and streamlined administrative workflows. Back in mid-May, only 8,597 confirmations had been approved; that figure crossed 11,000 by the end of May and has now surged past 17,300 in June. Approvals for new registrations have followed a similar steady upward trajectory, rising from 829 in mid-May to more than 1,100 by the end of June.

    Chief Electoral Officer Anthea Joseph outlined that the ongoing voter roll update is a core component of a wider national campaign to modernize and validate Dominica’s central voter database. By cross-checking records of existing voters and adding eligible new voters, the government aims to deliver a fully accurate, up-to-date electoral roll ahead of upcoming national elections. To support the implementation of these critical reforms, the Dominica government has partnered with regional governance bodies, including the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which have provided technical and advisory support to strengthen electoral administrative processes and rebuild public trust in the integrity of the island’s electoral system.

    Despite the progress on voter registration reform, public discourse continues around the structure of the Electoral Commission itself. Key political and civil society stakeholders, including prominent figure Gregor Nassief, have reiterated calls for full institutional restructuring of the commission to boost transparency and address long-standing public concerns over electoral governance. The Electoral Office has moved to increase openness around its work by releasing regular, periodic updates and publishing full lists of confirmed voters, with the most recent prior release covering registration activity between April 1 and April 30, 2026.

    Analysts of Dominica’s electoral process note that the June 2026 update carries multiple layers of significance for the island’s reform agenda. The sharp jump in approved applications points to tangible improvements in the efficiency of voter verification workflows, while the corresponding rise in total applications submitted signals growing public awareness and engagement as the October 2026 deadline draws near. The Electoral Office’s commitment to regular public disclosure of confirmed voter rolls further underscores its pledge to uphold transparency throughout the electoral modernization process, as Dominica continues to implement changes designed to strengthen its democratic institutions.

  • $581K Preschool Opens in OW’s Santa Cruz Village

    $581K Preschool Opens in OW’s Santa Cruz Village

    In a landmark step toward advancing educational equity across rural and urban communities in Belize, a new $581,000 early childhood education facility has officially opened its doors in Santa Cruz Village, Orange Walk District. The Santa Cruz Government Preschool, inaugurated in a formal ceremony on Thursday, rounds out a complete educational corridor for the area after the opening of the adjacent Santa Cruz Government Primary School just eight months prior in October 2025.

    The purpose-built modern facility is designed to meet the developmental needs of young learners, featuring spacious open-concept classrooms, accessible child-friendly restrooms, a commercial-grade kitchen for meal preparation, dedicated administrative office space, wheelchair-accessible ramps to serve children with mobility needs, and a secured outdoor playground for recreational play. The total project investment came out to $581,626.69, delivered through a collaborative funding partnership between the Belize Social Investment Fund, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and Belize’s Ministry of Education.

    Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Minister of State Ramon Cervantes framed the project as far more than a construction achievement, calling it a critical milestone in the government’s ongoing work to expand access to early childhood education for every Belizean child. “This project demonstrates the government’s unwavering commitment to upgrading education and educational infrastructure, and to guaranteeing that rural communities can access the same equitable, quality public services that urban areas enjoy,” Cervantes said. “This is not just a building. It is an investment in human capital, in the residents of Santa Cruz Village, and across the entire Orange Walk North constituency.”

    Elbert Ellis, portfolio manager at the Caribbean Development Bank, echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that early childhood investments generate long-term, nationwide benefits that extend far beyond individual students. “Early childhood education is one of the most powerful investments any society can make,” Ellis explained. “When we invest wisely in these formative early years, we do not just improve individual life trajectories — we strengthen families, anchor local communities, and drive better national development outcomes overall.”

    With the new preschool located directly beside the recently completed primary school, the development creates a continuous, seamless early learning pathway for children in Santa Cruz Village from their earliest educational years through primary education, a full ecosystem that Ellis called a “full early learning corridor” for the rural community. Backed by both national government and regional development stakeholders, the project reflects a growing consensus that targeted investment in rural early childhood education is a core strategy to narrow persistent social and economic gaps between rural and urban populations across Belize.

  • Dominica Football Association appoints Clem Bruno as Facilities Supervisor for Stockfarm

    Dominica Football Association appoints Clem Bruno as Facilities Supervisor for Stockfarm

    The Dominica Football Association (DFA) has made a key leadership appointment for its core training hub, announcing via an official Facebook post that Clem Bruno will take up the role of Facilities Supervisor at the DFA Technical Centre located in Stock Farm.

    Bruno comes to the national football governing body with a unique professional background, having previously served as a police officer. Across his decades-long career, he has built up a robust skill set centered on strategic leadership, systematic organizational coordination, and end-to-end operational management — capabilities the DFA says align perfectly with the needs of the technical centre role.

    In his new position, Bruno will carry full responsibility for steering all day-to-day activities at the Stock Farm facility, from coordinating regular upkeep and repair work to addressing operational needs as they arise. A core priority of his role will be upholding the facility’s standards to ensure it remains a secure, smoothly run, and professional space for all users and stakeholders, from national team players and youth development program participants to coaching staff and visiting football delegations.

    The DFA closed its announcement with an official welcome, expressing confidence that Bruno’s professional experience will bring valuable improvements to facility management, and that he will make meaningful contributions to the ongoing development of the association’s football infrastructure across the country.

  • Public Prosecutor’s Office arrests leader of gang involved in contract killings, kidnapping, and arms trafficking

    Public Prosecutor’s Office arrests leader of gang involved in contract killings, kidnapping, and arms trafficking

    In a major law enforcement breakthrough in the Dominican Republic’s National District, authorities captured one of the most-wanted alleged criminal kingpins Friday afternoon following a months-long investigation into a sprawling ring linked to brutal offences ranging from contract killings to extortion.

    Twenty-seven-year-old Juan Francisco Quezada Tolentino, known by his alias “Pavel”, was taken into custody without incident by law enforcement teams as he was present at a local shopping plaza in the National District. The operation was led by Andry De Los Santos, prosecutor and director of the Public Prosecutor’s Office Fugitive, Rebel and Convict Capture Unit (Ucaprec), with additional support from specialized personnel of the Public Ministry.

    Two pre-issued arrest warrants, numbered 2026-AJ0020297 and 2026-AJ0038079, were executed during the operation. The warrants were approved by Magistrate Rigoberto Sena Ferreras, head judge of the Eighth Court of Instruction of the National District, following a formal request from the Public Ministry, clearing the way for Quezada Tolentino’s apprehension.

    Investigative records compiled by the Public Prosecutor’s Office detail a pattern of extreme violence perpetrated by Quezada Tolentino and his still-at-large co-conspirators against victims of their criminal enterprise. Two high-profile fatal attacks tied to the ring have been a core focus of the ongoing probe.

    The first of these documented attacks took place on May 10, 2026 at roughly 12:16 p.m. in the La Esperanza sector of the National District’s Los Ríos neighborhood. According to witness accounts, a group of mostly hooded attackers intercepted a group of civilians before opening fire without warning, acting with clear intent to kill. The second attack left one man dead on March 5, 2026 around 7:00 p.m. The victim, Luis Alberto Méndez de la Cruz, also known as “Nano”, was shot dead at point-blank range by armed members of the network while visiting a friend at a residence on República de Colombia Avenue, located in the same La Esperanza neighborhood. Autopsy reports confirmed Méndez de la Cruz died from multiple gunshot wounds to the chest.

    All ongoing inquiries into the network are being overseen by the National District Public Prosecutor’s Office through its Department of Crimes and Offenses Against Persons. Quezada Tolentino and his co-defendants face a raft of criminal charges under Dominican law, including violations of articles 265, 266, 309, 295, 296, and 304 of the Dominican Penal Code, alongside breaches of articles 66, 67, and 70 of Law No. 631-16 regulating weapons, ammunition and related materials. The charges cover the full scope of the group’s alleged activity, from organized criminal conspiracy to illegal arms trafficking and murder.

    Following his arrest, Quezada Tolentino was transferred to the Ciudad Nueva Detention and Care Center (Caplip-2). In the coming hours, he is scheduled to appear before the Judicial Office of Permanent Attention Services of the National District for a formal court hearing, where a judge will consider the imposition of a coercive pretrial measure.

  • United will connect Houston with Santo Domingo during the winter season

    United will connect Houston with Santo Domingo during the winter season

    United Airlines has unveiled plans to expand its route footprint across Latin America and the Caribbean with the launch of a new seasonal air route linking Houston, Texas, to Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. The new service is scheduled to launch during the 2026/27 Northern Hemisphere winter season, a timeframe that consistently sees surges in travel demand driven by year-end holiday tourism, family visits and friend reunions.

    Operations will run from December 18, 2026, through January 3, 2027, with three weekly flights all operated using Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. Under the published schedule, outbound flights will depart from George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston during the afternoon, arriving at the Santo Domingo destination after nightfall. For return trips, flights will take off from the Dominican capital in the early morning, a timing arrangement crafted to give passengers convenient access to fast connections through United’s Houston hub to dozens of domestic and international destinations across the carrier’s global network.

    This carefully tailored schedule is designed to deliver maximum travel flexibility for passengers during one of the busiest annual travel windows on the global aviation calendar. As a temporary seasonal addition to United’s route portfolio, the new link directly addresses the steadily rising travel demand between the United States and the Caribbean, a region that has steadily strengthened its standing as one of the top tourist markets across the Americas.

    Industry analysts note that Santo Domingo holds unique strategic value for major air carriers, drawing consistent passenger volumes across leisure tourism, family travel and business segments. For its part, Houston remains one of United Airlines’ most critical connecting hubs, enabling seamless travel connectivity to and from hundreds of cities across North America, Europe and Asia. The expansion marks the latest step in United’s ongoing push to beef up its presence in high-demand Latin American and Caribbean markets, aligning with broader industry trends of growing air travel between the U.S. and popular Caribbean holiday destinations.

  • The tourism boom is also driving up informal businesses in the Dominican Republic

    The tourism boom is also driving up informal businesses in the Dominican Republic

    The Dominican Republic’s booming tourism sector has emerged as a key catalyst for grassroots entrepreneurship, drawing thousands of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) eager to tap into the industry’s growing momentum and untapped economic potential. But a new national survey has uncovered a major structural barrier holding this vibrant ecosystem back: nearly half of all tourism-linked MSMEs operate outside formal regulatory frameworks, leaving them less competitive and disproportionately exposed to economic shocks.

    The 2025 Sectoral Survey of Tourism (Ensetur 2025), conducted by the Dominican Republic’s National Institute of Migration (INM RD), analyzed MSME operations across three of the country’s highest-profile tourist hubs: Punta Cana-Macao, Barahona-Pedernales, and Puerto Plata. Of the roughly 642 MSMEs included in the study, 42.2% are classified as informal, meaning they lack official registration and compliance with local business regulations.

    The data confirms a clear trend across the sector: informality is heavily concentrated among the smallest business operations. The survey finds that 71.6% of all informal tourism MSMEs are micro-enterprises employing five or fewer workers, a share that is 22.5 percentage points higher than the rate of micro-enterprises among formal, regulated businesses in the sector. This pattern aligns with a broader industry dynamic: larger tourism operations are far more likely to comply with national regulations, while smaller, newer ventures disproportionately remain in the informal economy.

    Most informal MSMEs in the sector operate in the food and beverage segment, accounting for 76.4% of all informal businesses. That is 17.6 percentage points higher than the share of formal, registered tourism MSMEs that work in food and beverage. Geographically, half of all surveyed informal MSMEs (52%) are located in the top tourist hub of Punta Cana-Macao, 41% are based in Puerto Plata, and just 7% operate across Barahona and Pedernales, according to reporting from local outlet Diario Libre.

    The INM RD study emphasizes that informal activity in tourism is not a new issue, but a deeply entrenched characteristic of the sector that is closely tied to migrant labor integration. Most informal tourism roles offer low social protection, high worker turnover, and little regulatory oversight, which amplifies the socioeconomic vulnerability of migrant workers who make up a large share of this labor force. At the same time, the research acknowledges that informal micro-enterprises fill a critical economic role for marginalized communities: they are a key source of household income for vulnerable groups and a primary pathway for migrant workers to enter the Dominican labor market, thanks to their small operating scale, flexible organizational structures, and reliance on labor-intensive work.

    Despite these benefits, the concentration of unregulated micro-enterprises in major tourist centers creates significant policy challenges for national authorities. The informal sector’s high demand for flexible, seasonal, low-skilled labor is overwhelmingly filled by migrant workers, which complicates efforts to formalize employment, enforce consistent labor standards, and manage migration flows effectively.

    A breakdown of employment data underscores the gap between formal and informal operations. Among properly registered MSMEs, companies with 20 or more employees account for 61.5% of all jobs generated by the sector. By contrast, more than 85% of all informal tourism employment is concentrated in businesses with fewer than 10 workers. When sorted by occupation, informality rates exceed formal employment rates across multiple key tourism roles: 19.7% of all kitchen staff work in informal positions, followed by 15.6% of cleaning staff, 13% of general service workers, and 12.2% of management roles, per the survey.

    INM RD officials noted that the study’s scope was limited to MSMEs, as the research team was unable to access operational data from the country’s large, multinational hotel chains.